Curtain-stretcher.



C. W. BALLOU.

`mmvrm summum.

APPLICATION FILED FSB. 16, 1908.

908640' Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

ILD E. 5 2 SHEETS-4mm' g.

CHARLES W. BALLOU, OF SELLERSBURG, INDIANA.

CURTAIN-STILE TCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Application filed February 15, 1908. Serial No. I416,165.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BALLOU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sellersburg, in the county of Clark and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in curtain stretchers, and consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical device of this character in the form of an adjustable upright frame over which the curtain to be stretched is thrown and secured upon its opposite sides.

The above and othr objects of the invention are attained in its preferred embodi ment illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in Whichigure 1 is a front elevation of my improved curtain stretcher, showing the parts adjusted for a Wide curtain; Fig. 2 is a ver tical longitudinal section through the same, but showing the parts adjusted for stretching a small size curtain; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking device for the hinge joint of one of the sectional members or bars.

My improved curtain stretcher comprises two similar upright end members 1, 2 which are adjustably connected by one or more longitudinal members or bars 3, 4, 5. Each of the upright members 1 has an enlarged base portion 6 which provides a substantial support for the frame so that it cannot be overturned, and upright side portions or bars 7 which rise from the base 6 and are spaced apart, adjacent their upper ends, by cross portions 8 so as to provide in the upright end members vertical openings or slots 9 to receive the bars or members 4, 5. The extreme upper ends of the side bars 7 extend above the connecting portion or block 8 to form a recess or seat for the upper bar or member 3.

The upper bar 3 is preferably of greater length than the widest curtain that is to be stretched upon the device and one of its ends is hinged to one of the upright end members, preferably the member l, by a strap hinge 10 so that said bar 3 may be folded downwardly against the member 1 when the device is to be stored away or transported. The free end of the bar or member 3 I1s adapted to slide in the recess or seat in the top of the upri ht end member 2 and to be secured in an adjusted osition therein by a removable pin 11 whic is passed through transversely alining apertures in the upper ends of the bars 7 of said member and through any one of a longitudinal series of transverse apertures 12 formed in the bar or member 3. The pin 11 is straight and has at one end a finger piece or head whereby it may be readily inserted in and removed from the apertures in said parts 3, 7.

The lowermost longitudinal connecting bar or member 5, which I will term the base bar, has one of its ends connected by a strap hinge 12 to one of the upright end members, preferably the member 2, and its upper end is adapted to project through the slot or opening 9 in the other member 1. The base bar or member 5 is adapted to be folded upwardly against the member 2 when the stretcher is not in use, and it is adapted to be secured in its operative position to space the base portions of the members 1, 2 apart and steady the frame, by pivoting upon said members 1, 2,11ooks 13, 14 which are adapted to engage staples or other suitable keeper eyes 15, 16 upon said bar 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A longitudinal series of the staples or eyes 15 is provided for the pivoted hook or catch 13 to allow for the adjustment of the member 1.

The intermediate longitudinal bar 4, which I Will term the lower curtain stretching bar or member, is vertically adjustable in the slots 9 in the end members 1, 2, preferably by providing in the side bars 7 of said members vertical series of transversely alined apertures 16 to receive removable pins 18, 19 which are similar to the pins 11. The pin 18 pivots and secures one end of the bar 4 to the end member 1 and the pin 19 secures the other end of said bar in the other end member 2. To allow for the adjustment of the two end members toward and from each other, a longitudinal series of apertures 20 is formed in the bar 4 for the reception of the pin 19.

In order to prevent the ends of the bars or members 4, 5 from projecting beyond the end members l, 2 when the frame is adjusted for stretching a small size curtain, I malte each of said bars of two sections2l,*22 and connect them by strap hinges 23, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. By thus hnging the outer sections 22 to the inner sections 2 1,

the former may be swung upwardly along side of the end members or into the openin longitudinal alinement =when the stretcher is `adjusted for a larger curtain, I prov-ide` the locking device which is shown in Fig. 5

and which consists of a plate 24 25 upon the section 21 and havin pivoted atl at its l free end a notch l26 to receive a camping; ibolt 27't1hat passes through the other section i -22 and has a Winged nut 28 upon its threaded ends, an upper longitudinal 'bar adapted to 'The `curtain to 'be stretched is thrown over the upper stretching bar '3 of the traine, the

end.

upper edges o-f `which 'bar are rounded asi shown :at29 in Fig. 3 so that the curtain 'will ,not be creased at such points -aftefr it 1"has dried and is removed from the device.

The

side edges of the curtain are Ifasltenetll to `.the side bars 7 of the end members fby `engagingf said edges with suitable fastening devices 'The inner edges of the yside `bars 7 'have their outer faces, from which the pins or fasteners 3Q project, lbeveled and grooved, as shown at 31 in 'Fig 4, to reduce said bars 1'( in thickness so that the two hanging portions of the curtain may `lie in vertical planes close to the vertical planes of the o' posite wside aees of the upper Astretching' 'ar 3. The

upper ends and t'ghe inner corners of the bars 7 are also reduced and rounded as shown for a slim-ila;` purpose. The top and bottom edges of the curtain are fastened to the opposite 'side feces .of the `ie'wer str-eideing bar 4 by engaging them with pins 32 which project from said faces of the lbar 14 and are similar to the pins or 1fasteners B0. By "making the pins or faeners 30, '32 of suitable length and shape, a number of 'eur- -ta-ins fof the same 'size 1na`-y tbe simultaneously stretched upon the device.

To acilitate the adjustment of the stretcher ter the reception of a Acurtain of known width and length and for the `further purpose of ena-bling the curtain to rbe strete'hed evenly or squareiiy upon the vdevice, I preferably girar-tide the outer side faces et the bars 3,1 and 7 with graduada@ ni-arks', es clearlysiiown fin Fig. a.

Having ehus described may saver-idea end members having enlarged base portions,

choper nd lower iongitudinal laars adjustmembers, upper and iomer *longitudinal bars each hin ed at one end to one of the end ,members to vold against the same, adjustable connections between the other ends of said longitudinal bars and the opposite end members, an intermediate longitudinal bar vertically and longitudinally adjustable upon the end members, said intermediate and lower longitudinal 'bars each having a main section, and a foldable section, hinges connectin said sections of each of said sectional' ars, means Afor holding the sections of each of said section-al bars in longitudinal gllinement and .curtain attaching -means upon the outer faces of the intermediate longitudinal fba-r and said end members.

A curtain stretch-er comprising upright end members each having Aenlarged AYbase portions, spaced parallel side bars projecting `from the base portion, spacing blocks between said side FVlaars adjacent to their upper rest upon said spacing blocks and between the projecting upper ends of the side bars, a drap 'hinge connecting said upper longitudinal ba-r fte die spacing block on .one .of the end members to peri-nit said upper bar to fold against said end member, said upper longitudinal bar #bei-ng :formed adjacent to its other end with a longitudinal series of apertures adapted to aline with apertures formed in the projecting upper ends of the side bars of the other endmember, a removable pin passed through the registering apertures 'iin said side bars and the upper longitudinal tbar, ya lower longitudinal bar arranged 'between the 's aced side bars of the end and resting upon the ibase portions of the latter, a hinge connecting said Eloavle'rbar tto the base portion of one of the end members, a l.pliehralisty .of eyes arranged -u 'n the lower bar, hooks carried by :the base portions of the end members and enga ed vwith said eyes, an intermediate longitV inal laag' aaranged between the spaced side Abars of 'the end members and formed with a plurality of apertures to register with all-iningapentunes iformed in the spaced 'sid-e "bars of the len-d members, removable pins arranged in said Vreggia-:tering and alinling apertures :iin the intermediate and side bars to adjustably secure the Vformer beltfweenthe latter, said intermediate and lower iongiftudin-al isa-.rs each having a `main section and -a foldablle section. hinges uniting the two #see-tions .of :each of said sectional ibars, fastening means between the sections of said sectional l:bars *to hold their sections inalinementand curtain engaging pins profjecting from 'the opposite side faces of fthe `'interniodiarte longitudinal bars and the Iside bars .of the end =mem'bers.

8. A'euatain stretcher comprising npright alblfy' eorineoting'said send members, an intermediate bar vertically and longitudinalh1 outer faces of the intermediate longitudinal adjustable upon the end members, Suid lower bar and said end members. 1o longitudinal bars each having a main seo- In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my tion and a foldable section, the letter being signature in the presence of two witnesees.

j hinged to swing to a vertical position to pcr- CHARLES NV. BALLOU.

mit the stretcher t0 occupy but little space 1Witnesses: when adjusted to receive a small sized cur- LEoN HAMMER, tain, and curtain attaching means upon the CHAS. KREUETZER. 

